Washington, DC, Part 1: Family

 

3/28/26 National Mall, Washington, DC. A kite-flying festival was one of many events associated with the annual cherry blossom festival.

With members scattered on both coasts, my family tries to reunite annually. It helps to have an event to gather around (we especially like eclipses). This year the event was a taiko festival associated with Washington, DC,’s annual cherry blossom festival. Since I had never visited the DC area before, it was also an opportunity to sketch sights that were all new to me.

On stage in the shadow of the Washington Monument, the all-afternoon Sakura Taiko Festival was organized and led by my nephew-in-law, Mark Rooney. A challenging factor was that the event was the same day and location as the No Kings march and the peak of the cherry blossom bloom around the Tidal Basin. Lots and lots of people everywhere! Another challenge was that the temperature was in the low 40s with bitter wind most of the day. 

The taiko drumming could be heard from a long distance, adding a festive flair to other general cherry blossom festival goings-on all around. (Since I had opportunities to sketch the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms twice, I’ll put those sketches in a separate post.)

In addition to instructor and leader Mark, his wife Kristen and my other niece (and Kristen’s cousin) Alix are also taiko performers. The two cousins practice on opposites sides of the country, so it was especially fun to see Kristen and Alix perform together on the same stage for the first time. 

The highlight for my family was a performance by Kristen and Mark that was a tribute to my mom (Kristen’s grandmother). Called "Waiting for Spring," the performance included my mother’s haiku poetry. I got a little teary thinking about how proud and happy she would have been to see that performance (and I’d like to think she did from somewhere).

On another day, we visited the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism together. The memorial honors Japanese Americans who served in the US military during World War II. The 100th infantry battalion and 442nd regimental combat team, fighting in Europe, became the most highly decorated army unit for its size and length of service in American military history. (Ironically, many of these servicemen had family members who were incarcerated by the US government while they served). It also acknowledges the injustice of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent being incarcerated for the war’s duration.

Ten markers surrounding the memorial indicate the names of the 10 concentration camps and the number of citizens who were held at each. My parents and both brothers were incarcerated first at Tule Lake and then Minidoka. Since the two markers happened to be next to each other, this spot was ideal for a family portrait.

A highlight for me was collaborating with my grand-niece Kaila at the memorial. Now three-and-a-half, Kaila had taken interest as I sketched the memorial’s central crane sculpture, and I invited her to participate.

3/30/26 Collaborative work by Kaila and Tina

3 1/2-year-old Kaila hard at work

Finally, we all got to meet two furry members of the Koyama family, Roxie and Mugicha (whom I had sketched previously from a photo).

4/1/26 Mugicha and Roxie

Overcharged at Project 9

Evidence

When I was reviewing a credit card statement a while back, a charge from Project 9 Brewing Company from the night of the Super Bowl caught my attention. The charge was for $41.05. I knew that I had had only one small beer and some food, but the food was from an independent food truck vendor, so it was a separate charge. Why was the charge so high? Had I forgotten that I had treated my friends that night? I checked with them, and they remembered buying their own drinks. It was obviously an error.

I knew I could file a formal dispute with my credit card company, but I really like Project 9 (it’s a favorite venue for USk drink & draws), and filing a dispute would leave a bad taste in my mouth. I decided to talk to them about it directly instead. The bartenders gave me contact info for the owner.

In my email to him, I described what had happened and that I believed I had been overcharged. As “evidence,” I attached one of my sketches from the evening (detail shown here). The shape of the glass indicates the size of my beer, and of course, I had labeled the beer’s name.

He fully refunded the overcharge (including the legitimate cost of the beer) with apologies and no questions asked. I appreciate the customer service, and I’m sure I’ll be happily returning to Project 9.

The moral of the story: Always sketch your food and beverages in case you need evidence of an overcharge! 😉 

The Original Fude Pencil

 

3/25/26 Uni Mitsubishi "brush pencil" in Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook (photo reference)

After thinking about the Uni Mitsubishi “brush pencil” and talking about it in yesterday’s post, I couldn’t help but pull it out – it had been ages since I last used that amazing pencil. Indeed, it is the fude of graphite pencils – ultra smooth, 10B graphite combined with a thick, thick core.

I made the same types of swatches I did with the Derwent Drawing pencil in yesterday’s post: the side of core, with the point in multiple, lightly applied layers, and a high-pressure application with the point. With firm pressure, it’s so dark it looks almost like a marker. What a pencil!

Uni "brush pencil" swatches made in Zeta sketchbook

Yet is it more of a fude than a Derwent Drawing pencil is? I think not; they are equally fude-esque. And the Drawing pencil has the added benefit of not smudging nearly as much as the Uni “brush” does. Graphite or colored, any pencil can compete for the fude title – but it’s not easily earned. I’d welcome other contenders! I certainly don’t own any others!

Its title is stamped right on the barrel: fude enpitsu ("brush pencil")

The Fude of Colored Pencils (Plus Shading Tips)

 

Three ways to use Derwent Drawing pencils (all examples in this post made in Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook)

Although I’ve exclaimed more than once recently that Derwent Drawing pencils are uniquely special, I’ve struggled with articulating what makes them so. Their extra-soft, creamy core combined with an unprecedented thickness is the physical manifestation that makes them unique colored pencils, but what’s the result of that on paper?

The gold pencil at right is the Uni Mitsubishi "brush pencil," which I cut into a chisel shape.

Years ago (holy crap, my blog now tells me it was nearly a decade ago!), I wrote a review of the Uni Mitsubishi “brush pencil.” Obsessed at the time with all things fude (the Japanese term for “brush”), I happened upon this graphite pencil that was intended to mimic the fluidity and expressiveness of a calligraphy brush. Recalling that pencil made me realize that it has that same remarkable combo of ultra softness with thickness of core as Derwent Drawing pencils. As well as any pencil possibly could, they all possess the ability to make a wide range of thick-and-thin expressive marks that are usually limited to a wet brush.

I will now declare it: Derwent Drawing is the fude of colored pencils.

A blog reader recently requested tips on shading using Derwent Drawing pencils. Now that I have a way to talk about their greatest attribute – variable line-width expressiveness – I think the best thing a new user of these pencils can do is to experiment and play with mark-making to see what a difference it makes for a pencil to be both soft and thick.

In the swatches I made at the top of the post, the first swatch labeled “side” is one way I use these pencils most: on the side of their cores instead of their points. This is where they express their most fude-likeness by being both pressure-sensitive and able to make a variety of line widths. It’s a method typically not used by traditional colored pencil artists.

Of course, these pencils can also be used to shade in a more traditional way: Using a sharp point to make multiple, lightly applied layers (labeled “tip [light]”). Traditional instructions will also advise against applying hard pressure from the get-go (labeled “tip [hard]”). A freshly sharpened hardcore colored pencil (for example, Faber-Castell Polychromos) applied that way would likely leave permanent indentations in the paper’s surface. In addition, slamming down a big wad of pigment will leave bits of white paper exposed that will be much harder to cover later. Applying many light layers enables more pigment to get into the paper’s tooth and cover the surface completely.

But who cares? I only very rarely draw with colored pencils in the recommended way. (That swatch showing how hard I’m pressing? Don’t tell real colored pencil artists who showed you that! 😉) I’m all about slamming the color down hard and getting out fast! That may sound aggressive, but it’s no less soothing and relaxing simply because these pencils feel so good to use.

Just for fun, I stopped at a couple of points while making the sketch below to show some of the different ways I hold and apply Derwent Drawing pencils. In Phase 1, I’m holding the pencil loosely and lightly and using mostly the sharp point to block in the main shapes. (Yes, I always start with the car because it gives me a scale reference point.)

Phase 1: blocking in, mostly with pencil point

In Phase 2, I start using the side of the core to find varying values within the foliage.

Phase 2: side of core

In the final phase, I continued using the side of the core to work on the foliage texture. To finish, I used the point again to fill in the darkest areas.

Finishing: more shading with side; darkest areas with point

I knew that I had made a sketch previously using the same reference photo (coincidentally using the same Ink Blue pencil – it’s one of my favorites for this type of monochrome sketch). In the one below from Feb. 2, I used the pencil sort of halfway between the point and the side to draw the foliage texture with more vertical scribbles. I don’t think I used the full side at all in this sketch. Derwent Drawing pencils are full of new marks to discover!

2/2/26 Halfway between point and side for vertical marks

Thank you, Cathy, for making the request that prompted this post, which was fun for me to think about!

(Incidentally, reading that old review about the Uni “brush pencil” and seeing that sketch example make me realize that I hadn’t yet developed my skills in using pencils back then. I haven’t used that Uni in years; I must get it out and play with it again!)

Ink Blue -- one of my favorites for this type of monochrome sketching.

Takeout from Kona Kitchen

 

A Brief Quad Hanami

 

3/26/26 University of Washington Quad

On a jam-packed day, I barely had an hour to squeeze in at the University of Washington Quad, but how could I miss sketching peak cherry blossoms with USk Seattle? Arriving an hour-and-a-half late, I quickly singled out one tree so that I’d have a sketch to throw down (above). Of course, it was magnificently much wider than I allowed room for on the page.

After the throwdown, I went back into the throng for one more quick one: A gnarled, moss-covered branch as thick as an entire tree trunk itself and happy hanami participants enjoying the sunny (but cold) day.

Obligatory sakura selfie

More Happy Hours

11/5/25 Steve

1/8/26 Nick

Everyone in memory care enjoys Happy Hour, including visitors like me. Every Thursday, a musical performer comes in to entertain the residents, who also get to enjoy refreshments. The life enrichment staff do a great job of bringing in a variety of musicians. Several rotate in regularly, and it’s fun to sketch their familiar faces. Even the residents who spend most of their time dozing in their chairs become alert and engaged during happy hour.

1/15/26 Lindy Moo

2/15/26 Lisa & Frank

2/19/26 I didn't catch this performer's name,
but they performed in a "burlesque" style and 
talked about the tradition of drag performances.

3/5/26 Do

Randomly, this post also includes a couple of others who work hard in different ways to make the residents happy. Catharine, a life enrichment staff member, leads many hands-on activities with residents, including baking cookies. Gary is maintenance manager Aaron’s dog. Although Gary doesn’t do much but lie around, the residents like him, and I can’t resist sketching him.

1/6/26 Gary (left and above)

11/29/25 Catharine baking cookies